MODULE VIII - Conducting Meetings

MODULE VIII - Conducting Meetings

OBJECTIVES:

  • To provide participants with tips for conducting a meeting.
  • To discuss the Rules of Order used for the conduct of union meetings.

As a Local Executive Officer, from time to time you will likely be required to act as Chairperson for committee members or other meetings of members.  The role of the chairperson is to ensure that the necessary business before the assembly is properly dealt with, that members be able to effectively participate and discuss or debate the issues and that the meeting be conducted in an orderly and respectful manner.

Generally, meetings are conducted in accordance with the PSAC Rules of Order, which is an abridged version of the parliamentary procedures developed in Canadian Parliament for the conduct of business.  These procedures are intended to be an aid in ensuring the efficient conduct of business, but a good chairperson must be cognizant of the fact that many of our members are not well-versed in these procedures.  Hence, they should not normally be applied rigidly and the chairperson should assist members where necessary so that they may properly participate in the business before the meeting.

The excerpt from “UTE’s Help Manual”, “How to conduct a meeting” has been reproduced to assist Local Officers acting as Chairpersons while conducting meetings.  While this document in parts refers to the conduct of annual or other general membership meeting or a conference for the most part, the vast majority of information, procedures, tips and principles may be applied to any type of meeting. 

3.1 How to Conduct a Meeting

3.2 Order of Business

3.3 How to Chair a Meeting

3.4 Meeting or Conference Planner's Checklist

UTE’s document “Tips for Chairperson” has also been reproduced to assist you in conducting meetings.  Again, while this document was prepared mostly for the conduct of annual or other general membership meetings, its information will prove to be an invaluable source in chairing any and all types of local meetings.